Starting problem, the engine dies without giving it gas Options

[AMCMoe]

For the past year or so my car has always run a little rough when starting up, even after a major tune-up. Whenever it gets cold, it makes it run even rougher, for the past month or two now, I have to give it gas to keep it running when I start it up. Last night I went to start it (probably about 35 degrees out) and it wouldn't start up at all. It's getting spark, gas, air, everything it needs to run, but it seems like it's dumping too much gas into the engine when it starts. This morning I tried starting it up and it didn't start again, so I held the gas pedal to the floor and it started up, but filled my garage with smoke and a definite smell of gas in the air. I drove around the neighborhood to let it get hot and then came back and parked it for the rest of the day. This evening I went to start it up and it started with only needing to hold the gas pedal for 5 seconds or so and then it would idle on its own.

The spark plugs and everything related to the ignition is fine, fuel pump, filter, injectors, air filter, etc seem fine and all the necessary tune-up things were replaced less than a year ago. My only thoughts might be a sensor, like the IAT sensor, but wouldn't that or another give me an engine code? Thanks for reading this lengthy post and any help you could offer

Edit: and by 'rough' I mean, low idle and needing to hold down the gas pedal a little when it's cold out to keep it from bogging out and dying.

This post has been edited by AMCMoe: Dec 30, 2006 - 7:37 PM

[Dr_Tweak]

It could be the intake air control valve.

-Doc

[AMCMoe]

Is there a way I can test it to see if thats whats wrong?

Last night I went out cleaned the opening to the trottle body (there was a very small amount of dirty looking oily stuff before the butterfly valve, maybe from the air filter?) and after I adjusted the throttle cable and that got rid of the low idle, but still whenever I start up the car it'll rev to about 1,200RPM's and then drop back down and die without 'catching' at a certain RPM and idling there, so I have to give it gas to keep it up for a few seconds.

[6strngs]

I had this same exact problem and I just fixed it a few weeks ago. it's a dirty ISCV (Idle Speed Control Valve). what you'll need to do is remove the throttle body (four bolts and three hoses, but careful, one of the hoses contains coolant so be careful not to spill too much) then on the bottom of it, where the three nipples for the hoses are, are four screws, remove those and it'll probably be pretty dirty inside, clean it all up and put it back together. problem was solved instantly solved for me. it's started perfect every time since then. and it used to need me to rev it up to redline before it would idle.

give it a try, it'll only cost you like $2 for a new throttle body gasket and you're good to go!

[AMCMoe]

Thanks a lot, I'll go buy a gasket and will try this.